Apparatus for removing bottle caps

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for removing the crown cap of a capped bottle has a housing defining an inner chamber and has a passageway into which the capped bottle is to be inserted, the passageway opening into the chamber. A lever extends from the passageway into the chamber and has one end mounted directly on the housing for pivotal movement about an axis transverse to the lever, the latter having a cap-removing hook intermediate its pivotal axis. A spring pivotes the lever from a reset cap-on position to a release capoff position. An electric circuitry is provided for returning the lever to the reset cap-on position against the bias of the spring, the circuitry including a motorized rotary cap having a single planetory pin engageable, during its movement, with the lever to return it to reset cap-on position. The circuitry further has a first and a second switch that are mounted in parallel with the motorized cam, the first switch being responsive to actuation by the bottle, the crown cap thereof becomes engaged in the hook to rotate the cam and release the lever from the pin and the second switch being responsive to actuation by the pin to the energized cam when the lever is returned to reset position. There is a guide in the passageway to guide the bottle as it is inserted therein and hold it against axial displacement as the cap is being removed.

United States Patent [191 Lepage et al.

[ APPARATUS FOR REMOVING BOTTLE CAPS [76] Inventors: Jean-Paul Lepage, 1821 rue Delorme, Vimont, Ville de Laval. Quebec; Jean-Marie Glorieux, 3562 Rivard app. 4, Duvernay, Ville de Laval, Quebec, both of Canada [22] Filed: July 17,1974

[21] Appl. No.: 489,082

Primary ExaminerDonald G. Kelly Assistant Examiner-Roscoe V. Parker July 15, 1975 5 7] ABSTRACT An apparatus for removing the crown cap of a capped bottle has a housing defining an inner chamber and has a passageway into which the capped bottle is to be inserted, the passageway opening into the chamber. A lever extends from the passageway into the chamber and has one end mounted directly on the housing for pivotal movement about an axis transverse to the lever the latter having a cap-removing hook intermediate its pivotal axis. A spring pivotes the lever from a reset cap-on position to a release cap-off position. An electric circuitry is provided for returning the lever to the reset cap-on position against the bias of the spring, the circuitry including a motorized rotary cap having a single planetory pin engageablc, during its movement, with the lever to return it to reset cap-on position. The circuitry further has a first and a second switch that are mounted in parallel with the motorized cam. the first switch being responsive to actuation by the bottle, the crown cap thereof becomes engaged in the hook to rotate the cam and release the lever from the pin and the second switch being responsive to actuation by the pin to the energized cam when the lever is re turned to reset position. There is a guide in the passageway to guide the bottle as it is inserted therein and hold it against axial displacement as the cap is being removed.

6 Claims 10 Drawing Figures PATENTFPJUL '1 5 1975 SHEET PATEMTEMUL 1 5 ms 3 894.448 SHEET 3 SWL swa

APPARATUS FOR REMOVING BOTTLE CAPS This present invention relates to an apparatus for removing crown caps from bottles.

It is an improvement of the apparatus disclosed in our prior application in Canada Ser. No. 162,086, filed .Ian. 25, 1973 and its corresponding U.S. application, Ser. No. 393,202, filed Aug. 30, 1973.

In the use of the latter apparatus, we have found that the construction was rendered difficult and complex because of the axial shifting of the cap-removing hook which was necessary to initiate the cap-removing movement. Also, there were three limit switches which complicated the system and rendered it less reliable in operation while obviously more difficult to service.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide an apparatus of the above type which is greatly simplified, is easier to service and is consequently generally less expensive.

This object is realised in an apparatus according to the present invention which, as in our prior apparatus, includes a housing defining an inner chamber and having a passageway into which the bottle, of which the cap is to be removed, is inserted; the passageway opening into the chamber. The apparatus is characterized by the provision ofa lever extending from the passsageway into the chamber and means mounting one end thereof directly on the housing for pivotal movement about an axis transverse to the said lever; resilient means being provided for pivoting the lever from a reset cap-on position to a released cap-off position. There is also provided an electric circuit means for returning the lever to the reset cap-on position against the bias of the resilient means, this circuit means including a motorized rotary cam having a single planetory pin engageable, during planetory movement thereof, with the lever to return it to reset cap-on position; the circuit means further including a first and a second switch mounted in parallel with the motorized cam.

The first switch is responsive to actuation by the bottle, as the crown cap thereof becomes engaged in the hook; to rotate the cam and release the lever from the pin and the second switch is responsive to actuation by the pin to deenergized the cam when the lever is returned to reset position.

Finely, the apparatus of the invention provides means, in the passageway, to guide the bottle as it is inserted therein and to hold it against axial displacement as the cap is being removed.

It is believed that the invention will be better understood from the description that follows of a preferred embodiment having reference to the appended drawings wherein:

FIG. I is a perspective view of the apparatus of the invention, illustrating only the major components thereof;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the components of FIG. 1 with the hook portion of the apparatus shown in crosssection;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view longitudinally of the hook portion;

FIG. 4 is a transverse cross sectional view of the hook portion;

FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 are cross sectional views longitudinally of the cap-removing lever in three different positions of operation;

FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 are electrical diagrams of the apparatus in three different positions.

Referring now to the drawings, the apparatus comprises a housing 1 (FIGS. 5, 6, 7) having an inner chamber 3 and having a straight passageway 5 into which a bottle 7, of which the cap is to be removed, is inserted, the passageway 5 opening into the chamber 3. The bottle 7 has the usual frustoconical shoulder 9 terminating into a beam rim 11 and is closed by a crown cap 13 of the known type.

A lever 15 is mounted at one end into the passageway 5 to extend into the chamber 3. It is mounted directly on the housing I for pivotal movement about a transverse axis by means of a pair of laterally projecting pins 17 (FIG. 2) received into corresponding holes in protrusions 18 of the passageway 5. The lever 15 is mounted on the housing 1 solely for pivotal movement.

The lever 15 is an elongated generally flat body having a bridge member 19 fixedly secured therebeneath at the pivoted end as shown more particularly in FIG. 1. The bridge member 19 has an accuate cap rimengaging edge 21 spaced from the body 15 and has a lateral extent 23 sufficiently long to hold the cap 13 in position, as will hereafter be explained. The edge 21 is located close to the pivotal pin 17 to provide adequate leverage action and, as shown in FIG. 3, has the form of an upwardly bent sharp central part action as 21 capremoving hook.

As particularly shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the bridge I9 has a flat portion, forwardly of the edge 21 with respect to the direction of insertion of the bottle, which is intended to serve as a storage space for removed caps before they are pushed into the chamber 3.

The lever 15 is biased from the reset cap-on position to FIG. 5 to the released cap-off position of FIGS. 6 and 7 by resilient means in the form ofa coil spring 25 having one end fixed in a recess 27 of the housing 1 and the other end fixed in a cup 29 secured beneath the lever 15 at the end thereof opposite the pivotal end. Obviously, other known resilient means may be used to provide the stated function.

The lever 15 is returned to reset position against the bias of the spring 25 by an electric circuit means which includes a rotary cam 31 energized by a motor 33 through a speed reducer, where necessary. The cam 31 has a planetory pin 35 engageable with the lever 15 as will hereinafter be explained. The circuit means further includes a first switch SWL, having an operating arm 39 actuated by the cam pin 35. A second switch SW8 is mounted on the housing close to the inner end of the passageway 5 so that its arm 37 may be actuated by the bottle 7 when the latter reaches the said inner end.

Both switches are in parallel with the motor 33 and are opened as shown in FIG. 8, when the circuit is in reset position of the lever.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the lever 15 is formed with a through aperture 41 in the form of a U- shaped cut-out and the first switch SWL is so located in the housing (FIG. 5) with respect to the aperture 41 as to become actuated by the planetory pin 35 when the latter reaches the edge of the aperture 41 at which time the lever 15 is in reset position, as aforesaid. In such position, the pin 35 holds the lever 15 down against the bias of the spring 25.

Referring now particularly, to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the bridge member 19 is a U-shaped part with the edge defining hook 21 extending lateraly into ledges 23 engageable beneath the rim of the cap 13. ln order to hold the cap firmly against the hook 21 and the ledge 23, a presser element 43 is secured to the web of the bridge member 19. The presser element 43 has two longitudinal leaf springs 45 bearing downwardly against the cap 13 and one transverse resilient stopper 47, located rearwardly of the cap to prevent it from falling into the passageway 5 when the lever is upwardly tilted.

As the bottle 7 is inserted into the passageway 5, it is guided therein and held against upward axial movement by upwardly and inwardly inclined lateral shoulders 49 formed on the housing 1, and applying against the frustoconical shoulder 9 of the neck of the bottle 7.

ln reset position, the parts are in the relation-ship shown in FIGS. 1 and 5 wherein the lever 15 is generally horizontal, the planetory pin 35 is at the edge of the aperture 41 and presses the switch SWL to open position (FIG. 8) and the switch SWB is likewise open so that the motor 33 is inoperative. Two caps from bottles previously opened stand in the bridge member 19, one by the hook 21 and one forwardly thereof in the flat portion of the bridge member 19.

When a bottle is inserted to the bottom of the passageway 5, its cap rim is engaged over the hook 21 and its bottle neck presses on the lever 37 of SWB to close it thus energizing the motor 33, causing rotation of the cam 31. The forward most cap is ejected into the chamber 3 (FIG. 5). Immediately upon the planetory pin 35 falling in the aperture 41, the lever 15 is released and the spring 25 pivots it upwardly, the lever 15 then removing the cap 13 (FIG. 6) and the switch SWL closing (P16. 9). As soon as the bottle 7 is removed the switch SWB opens (FIG. but the switch SWL being still closed, the motor 33 remains energized. It will be noted that, because of the shoulder 49 in the passageway 5, the bottle is held stationary during removal of the cap.

SWL being still closed the cam 31 keeps on rotating (FIG. 7) until the planetory pin 35 again reaches SWL to open it, in reset position of the lever 15, deenergizing the motor 33 thus stopping the cam 31. To provide adequate stopping action and prevent the pin 35 from overriding and unintentially falling into the aperture 41, the motor 33 is equipped with an electromagnetic brake (not shown) which is released when the motor is energized and immediately applied when it is deenergized.

We claim:

1. An apparatus for removing the crown cap of a capped bottle, said apparatus including a housing defining an inner chamber and having a passageway into which said capped bottle is to be inserted, said passageway opening into said chamber, the combination therewith comprising:

a lever extending from said passageway into said chamber and means mounting one end of said lever directly on said housing solely for pivotal movement about an axis transverse to the said lever, said lever having a cap-removing hook intermediate its other end and its pivotal axis; resilient means for pivoting said lever from a reset cap-on position to a release cap-off position;

electric circuit means for returning said lever to said reset cap-on position against the bias of said resilient means; said circuit means including a motorized rotary cam having a single planetory pin engageable, during planetory movement thereof, with said lever to return it to said reset cap-on position; said circuit means further including a first and a second switch mounted in parallel with said motorized cam; said first switch being responsive to actuation by said bottle, as the crown cap thereof becomes engaged in said hook, to rotate said cam and release said lever from said pin, and said second switch being responsive to actuation by said pin to deenergize said cam when said lever is returned to reset position;

means in said passageway to guide said bottle as it is inserted therein and hold it against axial displacement as said cap is being removed.

2. An apparatus claimed in claim 1, wherein said the lever is formed with a through aperture and said second switch is so located in said housing with respect to said aperture to become actuated by said planetory pin as latter reaches the edge of said aperture and said lever is in said reset position, said lever being released as said pin leaves said edge and falls into said aperture subsequent to closing of said the first switch causing rotation of said cam.

3. An apparatus claimed in claim 2 wherein said lever is a generally flat body, and said hook is a bridge member having an accuate cap rim-engaging edge spaced from said body and having an extend sufiicient to hold on to said cap after to removal.

4. An apparatus claimed in claim 3 wherein said bridge member has a flat portion that projects forwardly of said edge with respect to the direction of in sertion of said bottle to serve as storing place for a removed cap which is subsequently pushed into said chamber by the caps of further bottles as one such further bottle is inserted in said passageway.

5. An apparatus claimed in claim 4 including spring means beneath said lever flat body rearwardly of said edge to press down on said cap after removal of said body and hold it against said hook.

6. An apparatus claimed in claim 5, including an upwardly resilient stopper projecting down from beneath said lever, rearwardly of said rim engaging edge of said hook, to prevent a removed cap from falling back into said passageway. 

1. An apparatus for removing the crown cap of a capped bottle, said apparatus including a housing defining an inner chamber and having a passageway into which said capped bottle is to be inserted, said passageway opening into said chamber, the combination therewith comprising: a lever extending from said passageway into said chamber and means mounting one end of said lever directly on said housing solely for pivotal movement about an axis transverse to the said lever, said lever having a cap-removing hook intermediate its other end and its pivotal axis; resilient means for pivoting said lever from a reset cap-on position to a release cap-off position; electric circuit means for returning said lever to said reset cap-on position against the bias of said resilient means; said circuit means including a motorized rotary cam having a single planetory pin engageable, during planetory movement thereof, with said lever to return it to said reset cap-on position; said circuit means further including a first and a second switch mounted in parallel with said motorized cam; said first switch being responsive to actuation by said bottle, as the crown cap thereof becomes engaged in said hook, to rotate said cam and release said lever from said pin, and said second switch being responsive to actuation by said pin to deenergize said cam when said lever is returned to reset position; means in said passageway to guide said bottle as it is inserted therein and hold it against axial displacement as said cap is being removed.
 2. An apparatus claimed in claim 1, wherein said the lever is formed with a through aperture and said second switch is so located in said housing with respect to said aperture to become actuated by said planetory pin as latter reaches the edge of said aperture and said lever is in said reset position, said lever being released as said pin leaves said edge and falls into said aperture subsequent to closing of said the first switch causing rotation of said cam.
 3. An apparatus claimed in claim 2 wherein said lever is a generally flat body, and said hook is a bridge member having an accuate cap rim-engaging edge spaced from said body and having an extend sufficient to hold on to said cap after to removal.
 4. An apparatus claimed in claim 3 wherein said bridge member has a flat portion that projects forwardly of said edge with respect to the direction of insertion of said bottle to serve as storing place for a removed cap which is subsequently pushed into said chamber by the caps of further bottles as one such further bottle is inserted in said passageway.
 5. An apparatus claimed in claim 4 including spring means beneath said lever flat body rearwardly of said edge to press down on said cap after removal of said body and hold it against said hook.
 6. An apparatus claimed in claim 5, including an upwardly resilient stopper projecting down from beneath said lever, rearwardly of said rim engaging edge of said hook, to prevent a removed cap from falling back into said passageway. 